Turkish leaders condemn genocide denial, global silence at Srebrenica 30th anniversary

Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, Numan Kurtulmus, addressed the gathering, describing the site as sacred and the moment as historically significant.

“It is a great honour to be here, at this sacred place and at such a meaningful moment,” he said. “This horrific crime unfolded before the eyes of the world. Thirty years later, we are still searching for the bones of the victims. We must all admit, we feel shame and bear deep responsibility.”

Kurtulmus emphasised that collective memory must be preserved, and the truth never forgotten.

“It is our duty to always remember. We must raise our voices against those who try to deny the truth.”

He welcomed the adoption of the UN Resolution establishing the International Day of Reflection and Remembrance of the 1995 Genocide in Srebrenica, calling it an overdue but important gesture.

Referencing the words of Alija Izetbegovic, the first President of Bosnia and Herzegovina, “a forgotten genocide is a repeated genocide,” Kurtulmus warned that the world has failed to learn from past atrocities. He linked the tragedies of Auschwitz, Srebrenica, and Gaza as examples of genocide ignored by the international community.

“Hitler, Mladic, and Netanyahu all follow the same blueprint. The same ideology lies at the root: ethnic cleansing, where a people becomes a target for annihilation.”

He described the genocides as highly organised crimes made possible by weak international responses.

“After World War II, international law became little more than words on paper. How was Srebrenica allowed to happen? And how is genocide now unfolding in Gaza? Is the law just a decoration, while justice remains in the hands of the powerful?”

Kurtulmus praised the persistence of families still searching for remains and the symbolism of today’s burials.

“This ceremony shows how sacred even a single bone is, three decades later. The fact that we are still retrieving bodies from the mud speaks volumes. If we don’t act together, history could repeat itself. More than 60,000 people have been killed in Gaza. I fear that when it ends, we will witness mass graves again, just like Srebrenica.”

He concluded by honouring the Mothers of Srebrenica and those fighting for justice:

“Their struggle is an inspiration. All human beings are equal; no one stands above another. We must not divide by anything other than humanity itself. That is our collective legacy. I feel that the souls of those being laid to rest today are here with us, and I wish them eternal peace.”

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan also marked the anniversary with a video message, declaring Turkey’s firm stance against genocide denial.

“Turkey rejects all statements and claims that deny the Srebrenica genocide or glorify war criminals, despite the rulings of international courts,” Erdogan said.

He reiterated Turkey’s unwavering support for Bosnia and Herzegovina’s territorial integrity, sovereignty, and constitutional order.

Addressing the ongoing war in Gaza, Erdogan drew direct parallels with the silence surrounding Srebrenica.

“The international community remained silent for decades about Srebrenica. Today, it watches in silence as the people of Palestine suffer.”

He concluded by stating that accountability for Israel’s actions would come:

“Sooner or later, the Israeli government will face justice, in courts and in the judgment of history, for the genocide of nearly 58,000 Palestinians.”